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Living with credit (247)
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New, interesting products (69)
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Research, regulation, industry reports (176)
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Rewards (23)
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Protecting yourself (113)
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The fine print (36)
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Credit card miscellany (280)
New, interesting products
The Ultimate Fighting Championship's many fans will likely never get the opportunity to step into the ring to test their mixed martial arts skills against combat stars like Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell or Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. For their personal well-being, that's probably a good thing. Soon enough, however, UFC enthusiasts will get to take a piece of the sport everywhere they go in the form of the new UFC Visa Card from U.S. Bank.
Social Security recipients now have the option of accepting payments via a debit MasterCard instead of paper checks, which increases safety and lowers fees for the unbanked.
A few weeks from now, I will be spending two glorious weeks in Scotland, England, Germany, France and possibly the Netherlands. England is the only European country I've visited before, and I am beyond thrilled to explore this part of the world. What I am not excited about, however, is the money situation.
Gas card giveaways, raffles and promotions are all the rage, but use those cards quickly.
This past Earth Day, I put together a feature on all the "green" credit cards available in the United States. We can now add another one to the list: HSBC North America has just launched its own environmentally-friendly card (interestingly, Leonardo DiCaprio was promoting the Chinese version of it in Hong Kong earlier this year).
Have you ever shown up at the mall knowing exactly what item you are looking for, but had no idea where to begin? A company called NearbyNow has a mobile solution that may help you shop more efficiently, though by consequence it may allow you to spend money with more ease.
A church in Washington prays for gas prices to go down and nothing happens. A church in Georgia decides to take action and raffle off $500 gas cards to those who attend services.
Nursefinders asked banking giant JPMorgan Chase to offer temporary staff a Chase payroll card that gets loaded with the day's salary as quickly as two hours after a time card is submitted.
Last month, I wrote about the new social network, Members Know, which American Express launched for its jet-setting cardholders. The company has recently launched another niche member Web site, Members Clubhouse, which targets AmEx-toting golf aficionados.
Now that May is here, it's time to begin planning for Mother's Day (it's the 11th). Struggling to come up with gift ideas besides flowers and jewelry? How about a faux credit card that she can redeem for hugs and kisses?
In Japan, smart cards are in wide use, and are being put to a noble cause -- preventing kids from buying cigarettes.
Traveling to Paris but not sure where to wine and dine? Want to book a trip to Fiji but have no idea which resort is the swankiest? Clueless about what activities to do in Rio de Janeiro? American Express has recently created a social networking community, Members Know, where cardholders can both ask for and provide such travel advice to each other.
The only form of plastic Discover Financial Services has issued since its beginnings in 1986 is credit cards. After recently signing an agreement with PULSE, an ATM/debit network owned by Discover, and seven other financial institutions, the company will now issue debit cards as well.
It used to be that credit cards were drab, outfitted in lackluster, monotone backgrounds. They've never been anything to brag about…until now. The age of personalized credit cards has dawned, and you can now customize your plastic with a monogram, a family portrait or even your dog's cute little face.
Do you know what your credit score is but aren't sure how it's calculated? Are you about to get married but don't know how to merge your credit? On a new Web site created by a former Fair Isaac Corp. VP, these questions and more are answered through free and simple instructional videos.
There is an online community for those who are trying to better their financial situation: Debtsy.com, a new Web site I read about on WalletPop. "Debtsy is a place where you can connect with others as you eliminate debt and build wealth," the site's tagline says.
During his first visit to Hong Kong, DiCaprio combined his roles as Hollywood star and environmental activist in promoting a line of "green" credit cards from banking giant HSBC. "The green card is made of environmentally friendly materials and uses digital bills to cut down paper consumption," explains Website ecorazzi.com. "Every transaction will also contribute to a local environmental protection project."
Dripping in diamond jewelry has always been the traditional way for women to display their wealth and status. Now they are not limited by rings and necklaces to prove their worth. A new credit card in Dubai comes embedded with a sparkling solitaire diamond.
Health care financing options expand for consumers facing medical debt. JPMorgan Chase is the latest to offer health care payment plan.
Early next year, MasterCard and NJ Transit expect to start an eight-month test that allows riders to pay their fares on PATH trains (which connect Manhattan and neighboring New Jersey) and two NJ Transit bus lines with contactless bank cards, key fobs, cell phones and other devices.
One credit card for Hooters and another for gambling with cash advances. Let's explore the fun and fine print-filled world of sinful credit cards.
Suze Orman and TrustedID have teamed up to create a kit to stop identity theft before it happens.
What are you giving up for Lent? The Methodist Church of Britain urges followers to give up credit cards.
In "Mission Impossible," "Minority Report," James Bond movies and even "The Terminator," eyes, fingers and voices are scanned to identify people and give access to secure places and objects. This futuristic type of identification technology, called biometrics, has been featured in movies for decades. Now it is a reality, and it may be the way of the future when it comes to credit cards.
I love the variety of quirky and bizarre products that can be found on the Internet. I spent some time on Google searching for credit card-related goodies, and I came up with lots of fun stuff. Here is a list of my 15 favorite credit card accessories, gadgets and toys.
TD Banknorth's new Simply Flexible credit card rewards consumers for offering up more than just the minimum monthly payment. Simply Flexible charges an interest rate of 7.99 percent on purchases. But to qualify for that "highly competitive" APR, cardholders will need to make a monthly payment equal to 10 percent or more of their revolving balance.
Perhaps you have always loved every gift you have ever been given. But more likely, you realize that sometimes good intentions aren't enough for you to overlook how truly horrendous that sweater from Cousin Gertrude looks when you put it on. With the surge in gift card giving, that sweater you can't stand may be replaced by a piece of plastic from a store you wouldn't be caught dead shopping in.
Financial Peace University comes highly recommended for those who still have some major learning to do about personal finance.
Millions of Americans get Social Security payments but have no bank accounts. Under a program announced Friday, the federal government would give these "unbanked" Social Security recipients the option of withdrawing their benifits via a new debit card.
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Still carrying around a rectangular credit card? How 1999 of you! We'll share the latest product innovations throughout the payment industry.
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